Written Answers Thursday 27 November 2008

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of this year’s single farm payments it expects to have paid by 25 December 2008, broken down by (a) value and (b) claimants.

Richard Lochhead: I can confirm that payments under the 2008 Single Farm Payment Scheme will start to arrive in bank accounts from 1 December. This means that we will have paid 13,800 producers a total of £223 million from the first date possible. With this good start to the settlement of this year’s claims, my officials estimate that by Christmas Day, we will have paid approximately 16,600 producers (84%) equating to around £334 million (75%). The Scottish Government does publish further details of its payment performance, as the payments, are made on our website and this can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Agriculture/grants/LatestPayments/Introduction.

Agriculture

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive by what date it expects to have paid 96.14% of the value of claims under the single farm payments scheme.

Richard Lochhead: The significance of paying 96.14% of Single Farm Payment expenditure is that we must reach that figure by 30 June 2009 in order to avoid late payment penalties being levied by the European Commission. I think Scottish farmers will find it more relevant to know, however, that my standing aim is that the Scottish Government should settle these claims from the earliest point possible and in full. You will be aware from my answer to S3W-17853 that payments are due to start appearing in farmers and crofters bank accounts from 1 December so my officials can only estimate at this point that we will reach the 96.14% target by 28 February 2009 or earlier, bearing in mind that payment is dependant on claims being eligible.

Alcohol

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, following comments from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice published in The Scotsman on 3 November 2008, what action it will take in relation to the promoters of mass pub crawls.

Kenny MacAskill: The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 puts in place provisions which will prevent licensed premises taking part in irresponsible promotions. Furthermore, Licensing Boards will be able to review the premises licence on any ground relevant to one or more of the licensing objectives. The licensing objectives include preventing public nuisance and protecting and improving public health. We will encourage and support Licensing Boards to use their powers under the 2005 act to crack down on irresponsible practices and irresponsible retailing once the act comes fully into force on 1 September 2009.

Alcohol

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether whisky displays at exhibitions and trade fairs will be exempt from forthcoming licensing legislation.

Kenny MacAskill: The government has made clear that is it not anti-alcohol and we are proud of our distillers and the premium products they make. Issues concerning the promotion of alcohol and potential measures under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 are being considered in light of the responses to the Scottish Government’s consultation Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol, but we are clear that we do not propose to ban promotions that explain the method of production, history and heritage of Scotland’s quality products. We have already given the Scotch Whisky Association an assurance that we will discuss these matters with them before proposing any regulatory action to end the irresponsible promotion of alcohol. We have also made clear that there is no question that distilleries will be prevented from offering drams as part of a distillery tour.

  In respect of displays at trade fairs and exhibitions, the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, which comes fully into force on 1 September 2009, requires that alcohol cannot be sold except under and in accordance with a premises licence, or an occasional licence. We would envisage occasional licences being used in most cases for alcohol sales at exhibitions and trade fairs.

Alcohol

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether small retailers whose main, but not sole, product is alcohol will be exempt from proposals to operate separate checkouts for alcohol in forthcoming licensing legislation.

Kenny MacAskill: The government has made clear that it is not anti-alcohol. However, Scotland’s relationship with alcohol is out of kilter and we need to rebalance it and that means adopting an innovative and imaginative approach to addressing the problem.

  Our consultation paper specifically sought views on the criteria that should be applied in determining which types of premises should be subject to any such arrangements. Proposals arising from Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol – a discussion paper on our strategic approach will be published early in 2009.

Autism

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is offered to those suffering from Asperger’s syndrome or autism to help them find employment.

Fiona Hyslop: The National Autistic Society run employment projects (Prospects and Into Work) to give adults with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) the opportunity to succeed in employment.

  The Scottish Government provided funding for the setting up of one-stop-shops in Glasgow and Lothian for adults with high functioning autism or Asperger’s syndrome. These pilot projects have been very successful and we are now encouraging other local authority areas to develop similar advice centres. The one-stop-shops support people in a number of ways including building skills and giving advice and support on getting into employment.

  Autism initiatives has been funded to co-ordinate an approach to the development of social firms specifically for people with autism spectrum disorders in Scotland. This will help them into real jobs compatible with their unique skills and support needs.

  The Scottish Government is working in partnership with COSLA on the development of a Framework for Supported Employment. The framework is being developed to look at how we assist more disabled people, including those with ASDs into the open labour market.

Carers

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the waiting times for carers’ assessments.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the waiting times are for carers’ assessments, broken down by local authority.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.

  The Scottish Government recognises the importance of carer assessments in identifying carers’ needs for support and as a gateway to accessing this support. As the member will be aware, under the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002, "regular and substantial" carers have the right to an assessment of their ability to care, independent from any assessment of the person they are caring for. However, I am aware that at present uptake of these assessments across authorities is low.

  To improve this, the Scottish Government, working with partners, has developed new National Minimum Information Standards for carer’s assessments as part of the National Outcomes Framework for Community Care. These standards should support the delivery of uniform carers assessments across local authorities. These standards focus on securing positive outcomes for carers.

  Furthermore, the User Defined Service Evaluation Toolkit (UDSET) and Carer Defined Service Evaluation Toolkit (CDSET) enable staff working in health and social care to capture valuable data for planning and improving services that are personalised and appropriate to individual users and carers, respectively.

  The tools described above are in the process of being adopted by partners around Scotland, and development continues in response to feedback. Early indications are that their use contributes positively to achieving good outcomes for individuals.

Child Protection

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what factors explain an increase in the number of referrals to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration in the south of Scotland and elsewhere.

Adam Ingram: The following table shows those local authority areas which saw an increase in the number of children referred between 2006-07 and 2007-08:

  

 Local Authority Area
 Number of Children Referred in 2007-08
Percentageof Children Referred
 Number of Children Referred in 2006-07
Percentageof Children Referred


 Aberdeenshire
 1,351
 2.9%
 1,306
 2.8%


 Dumfries and Galloway*
 1,573
 6.2%
 1,541
 6.0%


 East Dunbartonshire
 685
 3.5%
 684
 3.4%


 Eileen Siar
 229
 5.0%
 202
 4.3%


 Fife 
 3,068
 4.7%
 2,920
 4.5%



  Note: *South of Scotland.

  There are a variety of factors than can affect referral rates, such as pre-referral screening. Different local authorities are taking different approaches and it is for each local authority to decide what is most appropriate for their local area. Work with all relevant partner agencies is continuing, thus ensuring, as far as possible, that the right children - those who require compulsory measures of supervision - are referred to the reporter.

  It is encouraging to note that nationally there has been a 10.5% decrease in the number of children referred to the reporter in 2007-08 when compared to 2006-07.

Creative Scotland

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on progress in relation to the creation of Creative Scotland.

Linda Fabiani: We recently announced the appointment of Ewan Brown as chair designate of the new limited company to be established to manage the practicalities of the transition process towards Creative Scotland. The company will be set up by the turn of the year and a small board of directors will be appointed thereafter.

Crofters Commission

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance will be available to crofters in three years’ time when they need to replace the bull they inherit from the Crofters Commission.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17662 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Crofters Commission

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will create new crofts on Crofters Commission farms when the Bull Hire Scheme has ended.

Michael Russell: This will be one of the options to be considered when the future of the farms is appraised by Scottish ministers.

  The Scottish Public Finance Manual offers guidance on the factors to be taken into account when ministers consider the future use or disposal of land. Details may be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Finance/spfm/disposalassets/disposalassetsannex.

Crofters Commission

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the market value is of Crofters Commission farms.

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sold Beechwood Farm in Inverness and, if so, (a) to whom, (b) how many acres were sold and (c) for what price and, if not, whether it intends to sell (i) Beechwood, (ii) Knocknagael and (iii) Balrobert farms.

Michael Russell: The Crofters Commission manages three farms in the Inverness area on behalf of Scottish ministers: Beechwood, Knocknagael and Balrobert.

  An agreement to sale has been entered into with Highlands and Islands Enterprise in respect of Beechwood, an agricultural unit totalling approximately 214.3 acres, for £3.15 million.

  Knocknagael and Balrobert were collectively valued, as at 31 March 2007, at £2.7 million. No decisions have been taken on the future use or disposal of Knocknagael and Balrobert.

Crofters Commission

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to crofters who take over ownership of a Crofters Commission bull.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-17643 and S3W-17662 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Crofters Commission

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the development functions of the Crofters Commission have been transferred to Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Michael Russell: Discussions between the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Crofters Commission relating to the transfer of crofting development functions to Highland and Islands Enterprise are on-going. To date, there has been no transfer of resources to Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Culture

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to extend the cultural pathfinder programme to the North Lanarkshire Council area.

Linda Fabiani: The Pathfinder programme was launched by the previous administration in late 2006. It lasted for the period originally intended, embracing the financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08. It is now drawing to a close.

  As planned at the outset, an external evaluation of the full Cultural Pathfinder programme was commissioned earlier this year, and the evaluation report will be made widely available after publication in February 2009. It will be disseminated to local authorities which were not in the programme.

  We are in discussion with COSLA and VOCAL and other key interests about approaches to boost the contribution of culture for local people, and to extend access by vulnerable and diverse communities to good-quality cultural provision.

Economy

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its Scottish economic recovery plan and associated budget.

John Swinney: On 19 August 2008, a series of initiatives was announced by the First Minister to support the Scottish economy through the global economic downturn. Since then, the Scottish Government has continued to set out the actions as part of its economic recovery programme. I presented the Scottish Government’s approach and specific actions as part of the debate on the Scottish economy in the Parliament on 12 November 2008.

  The draft Scottish Budget was published on 16 September 2008. It lays out how all government spending will help to deliver our purpose of delivering greater prosperity and opportunity for the people of Scotland. The draft budget is subject to Parliamentary scrutiny and we will consider any amendments the Finance Committee may bring forward before Stage 1 of the Budget Bill in January 2009.

Economy

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how its current Scottish economic recovery plan differs from that agreed by the Cabinet on 14 October 2008.

John Swinney: The Scottish economic recovery plan is not a fixed set of measures, but a framework for action that is under constant review. Initial actions in support of the economy were announced by the First Minister on 19 August 2008, but new activity has been developed, and will continue to be developed, on an on-going basis. The Scottish Government’s response to the economic situation is being reviewed weekly by the Cabinet.

Economy

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what infrastructure projects it agreed to bring forward between the publication of the draft budget on 14 September 2008 and notification of the Scottish economic recovery plan on 12 October 2008 and where and to whom this was notified.

John Swinney: Between 14 September and 12 October 2008, the Scottish Government did not bring forward any infrastructure projects.

  We have a very significant capital investment programme set out in our Infrastructure Investment Plan 2008 (Bib. number 45134) amounting to £35 billion over the next 10 years which is being reviewed to identify areas for acceleration. We have already announced the £100 million of the Affordable Housing Investment Programme which has been brought forward from 2010-11 to 2008-09 and 2009-10. This was included in the draft budget document.

  New spending may be announced as part of the Scottish economic recovery plan, but the plan concentrates on how the timing and focus of agreed spending can be adjusted to support the economy. The budget consultation process for 2009-10 allows for views to be fed into the detailed proposals which will then be finalised for the Budget Bill.

Economy

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget implications are of the Scottish economic recovery plan and whether it will highlight any changes since the publication of its draft budget for 2009-10.

John Swinney: The key capital spending change which has been announced to date is the £100 million of the Affordable Housing Investment Programme which has been brought forward from 2010-11 to 2008-09 and 2009-10. The Scottish Government is currently reviewing the need for further acceleration or re-profiling of the budget in 2008-09. If any changes to the budget are proposed for 2008-09 they will be re-profiled at the Spring Budget Revision when there will be an opportunity for them to be scrutinised by the Parliament.

  New spending may be announced as part of the Scottish economic recovery plan, but the plan concentrates on how the timing and focus of agreed spending can be adjusted to support the economy. The budget consultation process for 2009-10 allows for views to be fed into the detailed proposals which will then be finalised for the Budget Bill.

  Fuller proposals will be set out in the light of the Pre-Budget Report.

Education

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide further information on its intentions for the Scottish Science and Language Baccalaureates.

Fiona Hyslop: Today I am announcing that the specifications for the Scottish Science and Language Baccalaureates will be as follows:

  Both the Baccalaureates will comprise two Advanced Higher courses, one Higher course and an Interdisciplinary Project, which will comprise 80 hours of study at Advanced Higher level. Copies of the specification are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47002). A Distinction will require A in one Advanced Higher, one other A in any component and at least B in all other components.

  This announcement follows discussions between the Scottish Government and SQA who have been engaging with representatives from schools, college, HE and business sectors on the proposed specification for the Baccalaureates since June. SQA have taken account of feedback from these key stakeholders and have recommended a revised specification for these awards. Last week I met with SQA and agreed the specification for the award.

  The aims of the Baccalaureates as initially announced on the 5 June are to encourage uptake in science and language courses in the upper secondary school; raise the status of S6 and motivate learners in their last year of school; assist young people in making the transition from school to further and higher education (FE/HE) and employment, and encourage collaboration between schools and FE/HE institutions.

  This is an exciting development, which I believe will be challenging and rewarding for both pupils and teachers.

Employment

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what government money it has provided to help create and safeguard jobs, as referred to in its news release on 12 November 2008 on employment statistics.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is investing in a range of activities that help create and safeguard jobs. The specific reference in the news release of 12 November 2008 was to Regional Selective Assistance funding. In the three months to the end of September 2008, 25 businesses in Scotland accepted Regional Selective Assistance grant offers totalling over £8 million. These offers relate to projects with planned investment of over £36.9 million, aimed at the planned creation and safeguarding of over 1,000 jobs.

  However, the vast majority of our investment in the development and acquisition of skills directly relates to building and sustaining a flexible skilled workforce. Over and above the wide range of activity within our universities, further education colleges and programmes such as modern apprenticeships, we also provide specific support for employers who are about to make staff redundant, pooling our collective resources from across the government to ensure those most in need receive it.

Employment

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it means by the statement "we are redoubling our efforts to accelerate investment" in its news release of 12 November 2008 on employment statistics.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has already a accelerated significant amount of public sector investment expenditure by bringing forward £100 million of spending in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme. It has done this in collaboration with local government. Further work with public sector partners on investment expenditure is underway.

Enterprise

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the decision to transfer the delivery of business advice to local authorities, what measures it put in place to protect private contractors that had secured contracts to deliver that business advice under the Business Gateway scheme.

Jim Mather: Currently the Business Gateway only operates in the Scottish Enterprise (lowland Scotland) area. 12 contracts for the local delivery of Business Gateway services were let by Scottish Enterprise in October 2007. Responsibility for the management of these existing local contracts was transferred to 12 lead local authorities across the area in April 2008.

  The contractual conditions applicable at the time of the transfer continued to apply thereafter and as such, no additional measures pertaining to the existing contractors were required.

  It is our intention that Business Gateway services will be available across Scotland and that local delivery will lie with local authorities. This will follow a national model but with scope for local variation in delivery. Work is therefore underway to develop the Business Gateway model for the Highlands and Islands Enterprise area and local delivery of this new service is expected to be operational during 2009. It will be for individual local authorities to determine the appropriate local delivery vehicle for this new service within their areas.

Enterprise

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advantages it considers there are in transferring some business advice services to local authority staff rather than the current arrangement where private sector contractors deliver that advice.

Jim Mather: In the Scottish Enterprise area, local business advice services provided by the Business Gateway are delivered by contractors (private sector and private/public sector consortia) under contracts let by Scottish Enterprise in October 2007. The management of these contracts was transferred to 12 lead local authorities from 1 April 2008.

  The Business Gateway is not currently available in the Highlands and Islands but in order to provide consistency of service, it is our intention that it should be introduced to the area within the next 12 months. Responsibility for local delivery of this new service will also lie with local authorities in the Highlands and Islands who will determine the most appropriate delivery vehicle for their individual areas. In some cases this may be in-house delivery, in others delivery may be contracted out. Whichever approach adopted will however, be subject to national standards to ensure consistency of service across the country.

  The transfer of responsibility for Business Gateway local delivery to local authorities provides for an holistic service and builds on local authorities’ links with business in their statutory role as licensing and planning authorities.

Enterprise

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether best value has been secured in the arrangements put in place to transfer business advice services under the Business Gateway transfer to local authorities.

Jim Mather: This is a matter for the 12 lead local authorities in the Scottish Enterprises area who have responsibility for the management of the 12 existing Business Gateway contracts. All local authorities have a statutory duty of best value in the discharge of their functions.

  This will also be the case when the Business Gateway is introduced to the Highlands and Islands and local authorities in that area have responsibility for its local delivery.

Enterprise

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what compensation will be offered to companies losing extant contracts to deliver business advice under the arrangements to transfer Business Gateway to local authorities.

Jim Mather: None. Existing Business Gateway contracts let in October 2007 were transferred to local authorities in the Scottish Enterprise area in April 2008. Contractual compliance, amendment, renewal and termination arrangements pertaining to those extant contracts are as agreed at the time of letting.

  The Business Gateway does not operate in the Highlands and Islands area and Highlands and Islands Enterprise currently provides advice to businesses, with some aspects of this service delivered by a supply partner. The terms of that contract are a commercial matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

  We aim to introduce the Business Gateway as a new service for businesses in the Highlands and Islands in 2009, and local authorities will be responsible for determining appropriate models for its local delivery.

Enterprise

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that local authorities have all the necessary expertise to deliver business advice services in situations where they have just become responsible for Business Gateway.

Jim Mather: Yes. The transfer of the Business Gateway contracts to the 12 lead local authorities in the Scottish Enterprise area in April 2008 has been very successful.

  Local authorities in the Highlands and Islands will take responsibility for local delivery of the Business Gateway service when it is introduced to that area in 2009. The service will be subject to national delivery standards but the approach determined by individual authorities will reflect their extensive knowledge of their area and local businesses.

Enterprise

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance was given to local authorities, in taking responsibility for Business Gateway, to ensure best value is secured in the delivery of the Business Gateway services.

Jim Mather: This is a matter for the 12 lead local authorities in the Scottish Enterprise area who from April 2008, have had responsibility for the management of the Business Gateway contracts. All local authorities have a statutory duty of best value in the discharge of their functions and this is supported by existing statutory guidance.

  This will also be the case when the Business Gateway is introduced to the Highlands and Islands and local authorities in that area assume responsibility for its local delivery.

Enterprise

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was suggested to local authorities taking over Business Gateway services that they should consider continuation of existing contracts for the delivery or part delivery of those services.

Jim Mather: The transfer of responsibility for the local delivery of the Business Gateway in the Scottish Enterprise area to local authorities, was a transfer of the management of 12 extant and continuing Business Gateway contracts to 12 lead local authorities.

  The Business Gateway does not operate in the Highlands and Islands and we intend to introduce it to the area during 2009. This will be a new service and therefore, unlike the position in lowland Scotland, there are no extant delivery contracts to be transferred or continued.

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise currently provides advice to businesses, with some aspects of this service delivered by a supply partner. The terms of that contract are a commercial matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the measures announced in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s pre-Budget report will have on the level of funding through the Scottish block grant in the current and future financial years.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government received an additional £11 million as a result of the Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report announcement on 24 November. These additional resources will become part of the total funding available to us to meet the commitments and priorities set out in our spending plans in the Draft Budget 2009-10 published last September. In addition, we have the opportunity to bring forward up to £260 million of capital expenditure in 2008-09 and 2009-10 to stimulate the economy. However, this funding will be offset by a corresponding reduction in expenditure in 2010-11.

  Our 2010-11 allocation is also due to be cut by around £129 million as a consequence of changes to the UK Department of Health’s budget and we face a further cut based on our Barnett share of a £5 billion reduction in UK departmental spending in 2010-11 and 2011-12. Taken together there is therefore the potential for a £1 billion reduction in Scottish spending, of which £500 million is likely to fall in the current spending review period.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to lease long-term full management and cutting rights over at least 25% of the national forest estate to large timberland investment companies.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on "Climate Change and the National Forest Estate" http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM .

  The consultation period closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the long-term leasing out of full management and cutting rights over at least 25% of the national forest estate to large timberland investment companies would have on Forestry Commission Scotland jobs.

Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on "Climate Change and the National Forest Estate" http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM . The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland. It is therefore too soon to say what (if any) impact there will be on Forestry Commission staff.

  If the leasing/cutting rights option goes ahead, there will be no compulsory redundancies and any jobs that move would be subject to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits it considers that the long-term leasing out of full management and cutting rights over at least 25% of the national forest estate to large timberland investment companies would bring in terms of tackling climate change and ensuring sustainable woodland resources.

Michael Russell: The benefit of long-term leasing out of management and cutting rights over parts of the national forest estate is that it would release capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This potential option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on "Climate Change and the National Forest Estate" http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM . The consultation period closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

General Practitioners

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many GPs are practising in the East Dunbartonshire local authority area, broken down by ward.

Nicola Sturgeon: Details are as follows:

  

 Ward
 Number of Contracted GPs


 Milngavie
 12


 Bearsden North
 4


 Bearsden South
 15


 Campsie and Kirkintilloch North
 28


 Bishopbriggs North and Torrance
 1


 Bishopbriggs South
 18


 Lenzie and Kirkintilloch South
 9


 Kirkintilloch East and Twechar
 02


 East Dunbartonshire total
 87



  Source: GP Contractor Database, ISD Scotland.

  Notes:

  1. The table shows the number of GPs working in East Dunbartonshire practices, by electoral ward, as at 30 September 2007. The allocation of GPs to wards is based on the postcode of the main general practice address and does not take account of instances where practices run branch surgeries in other locations. It should also be noted that people resident in one ward area can often be registered with a general practice in another ward area, subject to them living within the relevant practice boundary. The figures do not include out-of-hours services and GPs doing only locum work.

  2. One practice in Campsie and Kirkintilloch North ward runs a branch surgery at Twechar.

  3. GP numbers for 2008 will be published at local authority level on 27 January 2009 at:

  www.isdscotland.org/GPpracs&pops.

Homelessness

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have presented themselves as homeless in each year since 2002, broken down by local authority.

Stewart Maxwell: National statistics relating to households applying to local authorities under Scottish homelessness legislation are currently available to March 2008. The following table sets out this information by local authority. It should be noted that not all applications will result in the household being accepted as homeless.

  

 Local Authority 
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Aberdeen City
 1,579
 1,841
 1,623
 2,074
 2,298
 2,361


 Aberdeenshire
 1,162
 1,187
 1,394
 1,468
 1,646
 1,554


 Angus
 1,213
 1,406
 1,539
 1,251
 1,116
 1,226


 Argyll and Bute
 668
 906
 977
 1,120
 1,000
 1,029


 Clackmannanshire
 966
 1,005
 1,125
 1,160
 1,069
 703


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1,594
 1,578
 1,694
 1,623
 1,566
 1,508


 Dundee City
 957
 1,154
 1,461
 1,938
 2,101
 2,388


 East Ayrshire
 950
 1,017
 1,185
 1,252
 1,187
 988


 East Dunbartonshire
 517
 640
 554
 604
 656
 693


 East Lothian
 834
 890
 999
 1,115
 1,143
 1,117


 East Renfrewshire
 395
 397
 404
 368
 373
 327


 Edinburgh (City of)
 4,911
 5,485
 5,171
 5,040
 5,511
 5,186


 Eilean Siar
 171
 216
 260
 246
 275
 252


 Falkirk
 1,506
 1,632
 1,626
 2,027
 1,976
 2,476


 Fife
 3,763
 3,984
 4,127
 4,168
 4,393
 3,636


 Glasgow City
 13,006
 12,716
 10,680
 11,223
 10,502
 9,948


 Highland
 1,389
 2,103
 2,308
 2,461
 2,217
 2,286


 Inverclyde
 661
 698
 839
 878
 743
 523


 Midlothian
 444
 547
 615
 643
 686
 734


 Moray
 715
 629
 986
 1,126
 805
 859


 North Ayrshire
 1,803
 1,825
 1,724
 1,636
 1,516
 1,434


 North Lanarkshire
 2,670
 3,139
 3,999
 4,092
 3,749
 3,535


 Orkney
 147
 166
 210
 197
 232
 119


 Perth and Kinross
 1,220
 1,452
 1,467
 1,347
 988
 1,216


 Renfrewshire
 1,021
 1,478
 1,697
 1,641
 1,666
 1,037


 Scottish Borders
 593
 857
 801
 991
 988
 1,083


 Shetland
 166
 187
 162
 191
 232
 230


 South Ayrshire
 984
 1,018
 1,081
 1,030
 959
 912


 South Lanarkshire
 2,369
 2,496
 2,278
 2,412
 2,404
 2,735


 Stirling
 848
 868
 1,043
 1,056
 1,091
 886


 West Dunbartonshire
 1,256
 1,231
 1,431
 2,270
 2,402
 2,246


 West Lothian
 1,648
 1,885
 1,964
 1,979
 2,064
 1,655

Homelessness

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have presented themselves as homeless in each month since May 2007, broken down by local authority.

Stewart Maxwell: National statistics relating to households applying to local authorities under Scottish homelessness legislation are currently available to March 2008. The following table sets out this information by local authority. It should be noted that not all applications will result in the household being accepted as homeless.

  

 
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007


 Aberdeen City
 246
 233
 191
 236
 178
 195


 Aberdeenshire
 158
 142
 128
 132
 115
 140


 Angus
 115
 113
 72
 102
 76
 102


 Argyll and Bute
 83
 110
 79
 88
 69
 96


 Clackmannanshire
 62
 62
 83
 66
 42
 52


 Dumfries and Galloway
 140
 129
 132
 144
 136
 129


 Dundee City
 190
 170
 187
 229
 178
 191


 East Ayrshire
 84
 75
 92
 101
 73
 83


 East Dunbartonshire
 69
 57
 54
 62
 50
 67


 East Lothian
 105
 87
 77
 110
 74
 117


 East Renfrewshire
 26
 23
 26
 34
 23
 26


 Edinburgh (City of)
 507
 440
 460
 481
 389
 506


 Eilean Siar
 15
 28
 30
 17
 19
 21


 Falkirk
 195
 164
 189
 246
 199
 255


 Fife
 325
 323
 341
 295
 275
 308


 Glasgow City
 807
 847
 762
 805
 694
 865


 Highland
 205
 150
 244
 232
 180
 197


 Inverclyde
 69
 37
 46
 50
 29
 44


 Midlothian
 58
 49
 52
 67
 58
 69


 Moray
 73
 63
 74
 90
 73
 66


 North Ayrshire
 123
 118
 118
 118
 79
 120


 North Lanarkshire
 268
 319
 277
 340
 285
 319


 Orkney
 19
 10
 11
 11
 9
 9


 Perth and Kinross
 123
 110
 126
 140
 98
 87


 Renfrewshire
 90
 93
 89
 100
 77
 98


 Scottish Borders
 91
 71
 68
 93
 103
 83


 Shetland
 18
 20
 23
 19
 27
 20


 South Ayrshire
 68
 83
 97
 87
 62
 88


 South Lanarkshire
 230
 261
 248
 260
 198
 234


 Stirling
 93
 81
 100
 69
 69
 75


 West Dunbartonshire
 179
 221
 209
 197
 159
 184


 West Lothian
 158
 146
 142
 150
 131
 133



  

 
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008


 Aberdeen City
 180
 111
 241
 169
 186


 Aberdeenshire
 125
 72
 144
 142
 119


 Angus
 103
 54
 110
 109
 103


 Argyll and Bute
 87
 71
 92
 96
 79


 Clackmannanshire
 58
 38
 62
 57
 50


 Dumfries and Galloway
 94
 79
 141
 133
 113


 Dundee City
 219
 150
 204
 233
 259


 East Ayrshire
 84
 45
 89
 103
 74


 East Dunbartonshire
 69
 24
 59
 69
 57


 East Lothian
 101
 59
 106
 102
 84


 East Renfrewshire
 32
 20
 40
 37
 22


 Edinburgh (City of)
 423
 317
 424
 432
 395


 Eilean Siar
 16
 10
 27
 22
 21


 Falkirk
 193
 133
 282
 253
 211


 Fife
 282
 182
 351
 314
 331


 Glasgow City
 943
 659
 946
 1,010
 892


 Highland
 165
 95
 236
 210
 188


 Inverclyde
 32
 35
 38
 46
 46


 Midlothian
 48
 37
 67
 97
 79


 Moray
 74
 32
 91
 84
 72


 North Ayrshire
 123
 92
 153
 158
 119


 North Lanarkshire
 304
 189
 345
 308
 292


 Orkney
 7
 8
 13
 14
 n/a


 Perth and Kinross
 104
 41
 115
 88
 76


 Renfrewshire
 92
 59
 104
 76
 46


 Scottish Borders
 108
 71
 110
 103
 109


 Shetland
 16
 21
 16
 23
 14


 South Ayrshire
 81
 44
 74
 78
 66


 South Lanarkshire
 223
 139
 261
 265
 218


 Stirling
 64
 35
 85
 71
 78


 West Dunbartonshire
 198
 128
 208
 198
 181


 West Lothian
 105
 86
 156
 140
 155



  Due to technical difficulties Orkney data for March 2008 is currently not available.

Homelessness

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on rehousing those made homeless in each year since 2002, broken down by local authority.

Stewart Maxwell: This information is not held centrally. Local authorities and other agencies spend funding from a range of sources in order to rehouse homeless people. A variety of funding is also accessed to ensure that homelessness is prevented where possible and that appropriate support is provided.

Homelessness

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on rehousing those made homeless in each month since May 2007, broken down by local authority.

Stewart Maxwell: This information is not held centrally. Local authorities and other agencies spend funding from a range of sources in order to rehouse homeless people. A variety of funding is also accessed to ensure that homelessness is prevented where possible and that appropriate support is provided.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when updated powers relating to derelict buildings as introduced by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 will come into force.

Stewart Maxwell: The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 does not introduce new powers relating specifically to derelict buildings. New powers to deal with sub-standard housing, including work notices, maintenance orders and the designation of Housing Renewal Areas are due to come into force from early 2009.

  In the meantime local authorities have powers under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 to deal with defective and dangerous buildings and under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 to deal with houses in serious disrepair.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17139 by Stewart Maxwell on 17 November 2008, whether there are plans to collect data on the number of accessible houses built.

Stewart Maxwell: While there is no central source of data specifically on the number of accessible houses built in Scotland there is information on the number of houses built by local authorities and Registered Social Landlords. As all Scottish Government funded new build is required to comply with Housing for Varying Needs standards this provides some information on the number of new housing which is accessible.

  Information on new build in Scotland can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuild.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17139 by Stewart Maxwell on 17 November 2008, what it is doing to meet its obligations under the disability equality duty with regard to accessible housing.

Stewart Maxwell: There is a requirement for Scottish Government funded new build to comply with Housing for Varying Needs standards, which ensures the housing can continue to meet the changing needs of it occupants. This builds upon the concept of barrier free principles, which state that housing and its environment should meet the needs of almost everyone.

  More information can be found in the Scottish Government’s Disability Equality Scheme which can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/22092418/0.

Housing

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes have been built since January 2008, broken down by sector.

Stewart Maxwell: The number of house building completions between January 2008 and June 2008 (latest data available) was 11,102.

Housing

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes it expects to have been built in 2008, broken down by sector.

Stewart Maxwell: Information on the number of houses built in 2008 is due to be published in May 2009.

Housing

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes it projects will be built in 2009, broken down by sector.

Stewart Maxwell: Information on the number of houses built in 2009 is due to be published in May 2010.

Identity Cards

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many officials were involved in the preparation of the speech on identity cards delivered by Fergus Ewing on 19 November 2008 ( Official Report c. 12499) and from which directorate.

Fergus Ewing: One official, from the Public Service Reform Directorate, Identity and Privacy Policy Branch, prepared the speech, supported by two members of that Branch.

International Development

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that, in its international development work, it should use its influence through all channels available to it to promote democracy and human rights.

Linda Fabiani: As a responsible nation we have a duty to promote democracy and human rights where ever and when ever appropriate.

  The Scottish Government’s International Development Policy encourages and promotes the strengthening of civil society, equality and equal access for all, particularly those vulnerable groups who tend to be the most marginalised and excluded in society.

Licensing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many under-18s have received fines under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 for buying or attempting to buy alcohol in each of the last five years and what the level of fine was in each case.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.

  Persons Under 18 Fined for Buying Excisable Liquor or Consuming in a Bar 1, 2002-03 to 2006-07

  

Amount of Fine (£)
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 20
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -


 25
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -


 30
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -


 35
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1


 40
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -


 50
 1
 -
 -
 -
 1


 60
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -


 65
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -


 75
 -
 1
 -
 1
 1


 90
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1


 100
 1
 -
 2
 -
 1


 150
 2
 -
 1
 -
 -


 200
 1
 -
 -
 1
 -


 Total
 8
 3
 3
 4
 5



  Note: 1. Where main offence.

Licensing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many licence holders or employees have received fines under section 76 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 for supplying alcoholic liquor to a drunken person in licensed premises in each of the last five years and what the level of fine was in each case.

Kenny MacAskill: Data from the Scottish Government Court Proceedings database shows that, in 2002-03 to 2006-07, there were two people fined under section 76 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 for supplying alcoholic liquor to a drunken person in licensed premises (where this was the main offence). One person received a fine of £500 in 2004-05 and, in 2005-06, one person was fined £400.

Livestock

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to support improvement in the health and quality of cattle in the Highlands and Islands.

Michael Russell: High quality livestock is one of the great selling points of the Scottish food industry. We are therefore supporting individuals and industry through the Scotland Rural Development Programme, the Scottish beef calf scheme, support for crofters in accessing veterinary services and the funding of research on the ground.

Livestock

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many bulls were replaced during a hire period under the Bull Hire Scheme in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02, (c) 2002-03, (d) 2003-04, (e) 2004-05, (f) 2005-06, (g) 2006-07 and (h) 2007-08.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many bulls were hired under the Bull Hire Scheme in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02, (c) 2002-03, (d) 2003-04, (e) 2004-05, (f) 2005-06 and (g) 2006-07.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of participating in the Bull Hire Scheme in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02, (c) 2002-03, (d) 2003-04, (e) 2004-05, (f) 2005-06, (g) 2006-07 and (h) 2007-08.

Michael Russell: The information requested is not held centrally. The Bull Hire Scheme is administered on behalf of Scottish ministers by the Crofters Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Crofters Commission to respond to you directly with the information you have requested.

Livestock

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for participating in the Bull Hire Scheme.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria were for participating in the Bull Hire Scheme in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02, (c) 2002-03, (d) 2003-04, (e) 2004-05, (f) 2005-06, (g) 2006-07 and (h) 2007-08.

Michael Russell: Individual crofters are not eligible to participate in the subsidised bull hire arrangements operated by the Crofters Commission. In the years in question, eligibility was normally confined to groups representing at least three cow owners. These requirements were designed to prevent the possibility that a group might be formed to support a single business/enterprise.

Livestock

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the alternative is to the Bull Hire Scheme and what work has been carried out in establishing the practicality of that alternative.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-17650 and S3W-17655 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Livestock

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation has been made of farming incomes for bull producers following withdrawal of the Bull Hire Scheme.

Michael Russell: No such evaluation has been carried out in respect of the withdrawal of the Bull Hire Scheme.

Marine Environment

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in relation to securing additional marine responsibilities out to 200 nautical miles, as supported by the Parliament in its debate on Scotland’s Marine Environment on 20 March 2008

Richard Lochhead: I am pleased to announce that Scotland will be granted executive devolution of marine planning and nature conservation out to 200 nautical miles. This follows the First Minister successfully pressing for the resurrection of the Joint Ministerial Committee as a formal mechanism for taking forward issues involving the UK Government and devolved administrations. Agreement has been reached on a framework for marine planning and nature conservation.

  This will involve a coherent system of marine planning involving all parts of the UK. Scotland will participate in the development of a UK Marine Policy statement, which will provide a framework for the sustainable development of the UK Marine area. The Marine Policy Statement will guide marine planning and there will be a mechanism for Scottish ministers to decline to adopt a Marine Policy Statement. Additional marine planning and nature conservation powers including the powers to designate Marine Protected Zones will be executively devolved to Scottish ministers beyond 12nm to 200nm bringing these responsibilities into line with existing fisheries responsibilities. Scottish marine plans after agreement by the UK Government will be binding on UK bodies and departments exercising reserved functions. This provides the basis for a coherent system of marine management for the seas around Scotland joining up with the UK Government to provide an integrated framework to achieve a good outcome for Scotland’s seas.

Ministerial Engagements

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements were undertaken by each member of the Cabinet between 1 October and 6 November 2008.

John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47030).

Ministerial Meetings

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all occasions when Cabinet ministers, including the First Minister, have met newspaper editors since May 2007.

John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47031).

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would support and approve an NHS board freezing recruitment of frontline clinical staff as a measure to achieve efficiency savings or a balanced budget.

Nicola Sturgeon: Only schemes that comply with the definition of an efficiency saving would be accepted. The definition of a cash-releasing efficiency saving is where the organisation delivers the same service at a reduced cost, demonstrated by delivering the same outcome(s) or output(s) for a reduced input or delivering a reduced unit cost allowing an increased volume of service for the same cost.

  Potential efficiencies are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Oil

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the rise and fall in the oil price; how that information is relayed to ministers, and at what frequency and level of detail.

John Swinney: Government Officials monitor changes in the price of oil on a daily basis and report changes to ministers, normally on a weekly basis. If significant variations occur then they are informed more frequently.

Oil

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the oil fund study referred to by the First Minister on BBC Scotland’s Politics Show on Sunday 8 June 2008 was set up; who sits on the body; whether the minutes are publicly available; what the budget is, and when it expects to report to the Parliament.

John Swinney: The report is being compiled internally by officials in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser. There are no additional budgetary costs. The work is on-going and will report to the Parliament in due course.

Planning

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the planning reforms are that it reports having delivered in its news release of 12 November 2008 on employment statistics.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has agreed a wide-ranging package of improvements to support planning reform, which were announced on 28 October 2008. Copies of Delivering Planning Reform  have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46980). The reforms will ensure planning is more effectively geared towards supporting increased sustainable economic growth. Planning modernisation is a live and on-going project that will be fully implemented next year.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners there are with diabetes and what percentage this represents of the total prisoner population.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Information on the prevalence of diabetes in the prisoner population is contained in Prison Health in Scotland: A Health Care Needs Assessment (Dr Lesley Graham, December 2007). The following is an e-link to the report:

  http://www.sps.gov.uk/MultimediaGallery/363852d6-79d1-464c-9b65-857721c2a628.pdf.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have (a) type 1 diabetes and (b) type 2 diabetes.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Information on the prevalence of diabetes in the prisoner population is contained in Prison Health in Scotland: A Health Care Needs Assessment (Dr Lesley Graham, December 2007). The following is an e-link to the report:

  http://www.sps.gov.uk/MultimediaGallery/363852d6-79d1-464c-9b65-857721c2a628.pdf.

  An audit conducted in summer 2008 indicated there were 57 prisoners held in custody at the time of audit who were type 1 diabetics. Type 2 diabetes was not part of this audit.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners inject insulin to control their diabetes.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  An audit conducted in summer 2008 indicated there were 57 prisoners held in custody at the time of audit who were type 1 insulin dependent diabetics.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what incidents of (a) hypoglycaemia, (b) hyperglycaemia and (c) diabetic ketoacidosis were recorded in prisons in the last 10 years.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were admitted to hospital as a result of their diabetes in the last 10 years.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not available.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision there is of diabetes specialist nurse-led services and clinics in prisons.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The health care management of prisoners is undertaken on an individual needs basis, informed by the presenting needs of each prisoner. Any prisoner with diabetes would be provided with appropriate care, dependent on their specific need. Establishments have well developed links with community partners to access specialist advice and treatment.

  The appropriateness of providing specific diabetes clinics at each establishment is dependent on the number of prisoners requiring such services within each prison at any given time.

  An audit undertaken in summer 2008 established that individual prisons held between zero and 12 prisoners with Insulin Dependent Diabetes Melitus at that time.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many practitioner nurses working in the Scottish Prison Service are diabetes specialists.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  There are no diabetes specialist nurses working in the Scottish Prison Service, although some nurses have developed a special interest and have increased their knowledge and skills through accredited training.

Public Bodies

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what encouragement it provides to public bodies to produce information in a variety of formats and in plain language.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to making its information available to all, including disabled people. Public bodies have responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act to make reasonable adjustments to enable access to services. Under the Disability Equality Duty, they are also required to have due regard to the need to promote equality for disabled people. We take our duties under the Disability Discrimination Act and Disability Equality Duty seriously, and expect other organisations and public bodies to do so too.

  We are currently providing the Scottish Accessible Information Forum (SAIF) with funding of £80,021 per year until March 2011.

  This funding will allow SAIF to continue to carry through the recommendations of Enabling Information, a report on improving access and raising standards in information services for disabled people and their carers in Scotland, one of the conclusions of the Scottish Working Group on Information Services for People with Disabilities.

Renewable Energy

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many small-scale renewable schemes have been funded under the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative in each year since it started, broken down by local authority area.

Jim Mather: Information on the number of small-scale renewable schemes that have been funded each year under the household stream of the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative, by local authority is detailed in the following table. In addition, a further 736 projects have been approved for funding in this financial year.

  

 Local Authority
 Number of Grants


 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08
 2008-09


 Aberdeen City
 0
 1
 4
 11
 4
 1


 Aberdeenshire 
 4
 10
 24
 79
 96
 52


 Angus 
 5
 8
 10
 38
 34
 10


 Argyll and Bute
 3
 6
 15
 26
 38
 14


 Clackmannanshire
 0
 0
 1
 3
 2
 1


 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
 0
 1
 2
 7
 7
 9


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3
 9
 27
 48
 58
 18


 Dundee City 
 0
 0
 2
 2
 6
 1


 East Ayrshire
 0
 1
 4
 11
 17
 7


 East Dunbartonshire
 1
 2
 1
 3
 11
 2


 East Lothian
 3
 4
 4
 6
 15
 5


 East Renfrewshire
 1
 1
 4
 7
 4
 3


 Edinburgh City
 2
 3
 8
 29
 25
 11


 Falkirk
 0
 1
 1
 9
 4
 1


 Fife
 4
 12
 10
 50
 66
 29


 Glasgow City
 0
 1
 0
 6
 9
 1


 Highland
 10
 17
 33
 115
 117
 69


 Inverclyde
 0
 0
 0
 3
 2
 0


 Midlothian 
 0
 1
 2
 7
 10
 4


 Moray
 0
 4
 11
 26
 27
 8


 North Ayrshire
 1
 1
 2
 21
 26
 5


 North Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 5
 4
 3


 Orkney
 0
 4
 18
 22
 36
 19


 Perth and Kinross
 6
 13
 29
 73
 74
 28


 Renfrewshire
 0
 0
 0
 2
 2
 1


 Scottish Borders
 2
 4
 10
 40
 45
 16


 Shetland
 0
 18
 25
 27
 52
 14


 South Ayrshire
 2
 2
 1
 13
 31
 11


 South Lanarkshire
 2
 0
 7
 21
 30
 5


 Stirling
 4
 0
 8
 23
 19
 8


 West Dunbartonshire
 0
 0
 1
 1
 3
 0


 West Lothian
 0
 2
 1
 8
 19
 4


 Total
 53
 126
 265
 742
 893
 360



  Information on the number of small-scale renewable schemes that have been funded each year under the community stream of the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative broken down by local authority is not available. Information is therefore provided broken down by Highlands and Islands Enterprise area, and Scottish Enterprise area, as this is consistent with the delivery of the community stream of the programme. In addition, a further 83 projects have been approved for funding in this financial year.

  

 Local Authority
 Number of Grants


 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08
 2008-09


 Scottish Enterprise
 30
 42
 12
 7
 71
 2


 Highlands and Islands Enterprise
 109
 52
 73
 56
 46
 10

Roads

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when traffic was last surveyed by it or on its behalf on those sections of the A70 between Ayr and Cumnock and between Cumnock and the M74 and what the results were.

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it next intends to commission a traffic survey on those sections of the A70 between Ayr and Cumnock and between Cumnock and the M74.

Stewart Stevenson: Traffic survey work of this nature is the responsibility of local authorities. However, I understand that some survey work has been undertaken by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport as part of their Regional Transport Strategy and I would refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17930 on 27 November 2008.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Roads

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission a report on the economic benefits to south and east Ayrshire of upgrading the A70 between Ayr and the M74.

John Swinney: I see no need for action by the Scottish Government given that the matter is currently being addressed by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and their member councils of South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. SPT have already identified access to the M74 via the A70 and A71 as a key priority forming part of their Regional Transport Strategy.

  I understand that SPT have funded developmental work by East Ayrshire Council on improvements to the A70 in 2007-08, and have received a bid from them for the 2008-09 SPT Capital Programme for improvements to the A70. The aim of this is to improve journey times, reliability and safety, in the context of improving the attractiveness of East Ayrshire, and improving access to the M74.

  East Ayrshire Council has funded further work this year looking at the whole route of the A70/A71 to examine opportunities for future phased improvements. This is likely to form the basis of future bids for funding to SPT to determine future, long-term plans for the route.

Schools

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Scottish Futures Trust has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding underwriting funds committed to the Aberdeen 3Rs school project.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding the underwriting of the Aberdeen 3Rs school project.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will underwrite the Aberdeen 3Rs school project.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has underwritten any of the costs associated with the Aberdeen 3Rs school project and, if so, to what extent.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will underwrite funds already committed by Aberdeen City Council to the Aberdeen 3Rs school project.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is monitoring developments with the Aberdeen 3Rs school project closely in light of the current situation. Scottish Futures Trust is in regular contact with Aberdeen City Council. The council has taken steps to ensure that work will continue on site while the private sector consortium seeks to secure funding for the project. Responsibility for delivering the schools and securing necessary finance remains solely with the consortium.

Tourism

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of (a) hotels and guest houses and (b) tourist beds can be booked via the VisitScotland website, broken down by local authority area.

Jim Mather: As at end-November 2008, the VisitScotland.com website ( www.visitscotland.com ) lists 7,190 quality assured accommodation providers. Approximately 1,000 of these have chosen to have an online booking facility through the VisitScoland.com’s booking engine and more than 600 are small businesses that have purchased the Web-In-A-Box tool.

  Data on the number of hotels and guest houses listed on VisitScotland.com who have chosen to offer an online booking facility through the VisitScotland.com’s booking engine are listed at table 1 and 2. Table 3 provides a breakdown of all types of accommodation providers.

  The total number of tourist beds available through these online booking facilities can vary depending on the season and how many beds individual providers offer via this particular booking method.

  Information is not available broken down by local authority area, but is shown by each of the marketing regions used by the website.

  VisitScotland.com re-launched the website in April 2008, providing direct access for consumers to the individual accommodation providers on the Visitors Guide and opening new booking enquiries channels through the Travel Shop. Substantial growth has been achieved on the overall number of e-mail enquiries and also direct enquiries to accommodation providers.

  Table 1: Hotels

  

 Marketing Region
 Listed on VisitScotland.com
 Online Booking Facility


 Aberdeen
 94
 23


 Angus and Dundee
 30
 11


 Argyll and Stirlingshire
 100
 47


 Edinburgh and Lothians
 115
 75


 Fife
 40
 16


 Greater Glasgow and Lanark
 90
 49


 Highlands and Skye
 166
 77


 Orkney
 15
 0


 Perthshire
 67
 34


 Shetland
 8
 7


 South of Scotland
 119
 46


 Western Isles
 15
 8


 Total
 859
 393



  Table 2: Guest Houses

  

 Marketing Region
 Listed on VisitScotland.com
 Online Booking Facility


 Aberdeen
 59
 11


 Angus and Dundee
 14
 4


 Argyll and Stirlingshire
 117
 29


 Edinburgh and Lothians
 156
 81


 Fife
 32
 3


 Greater Glasgow and Lanark
 31
 8


 Highlands and Skye
 150
 65


 Orkney
 15
 1


 Perthshire
 60
 16


 Shetland
 10
 1


 South of Scotland
 93
 30


 Western Isles
 20
 3


 Total
 757
 252



  Table 3: By Type of Accommodation

  

 Category
 Listed on VisitScotland.com
 Online Booking Facility


 Hotel
 859
 393


 Guest Houses
 757
 252


 B&B’s
 1,409
 181


 Self catering
 3,298
 101


 Others
 867
 102


 Total
 7,190
 1,029

Travellers

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what priority will be given to applicants for funding for Gypsy/Traveller sites in local authority areas that do not have residential or transit sites.

Stewart Maxwell: The invitation to local authorities to apply for funding from the Gypsy/Traveller Site Grant 2008-09 to 2009-10 indicated that bids for new residential or transit sites would be particularly welcome. It also indicated that where strong bids for these purposes were received they may be given priority for funding. The decision to encourage bids for new sites responds to evidence of unmet demand in some areas and that investment in recent years has been dominated by refurbishing existing sites.

  In assessing bids, a number of criteria will be taken into account including evidence of need and demand level, the suitability and sustainability of the proposed site and whether it represents good use of money rather than whether a local authority already has other residential Gypsy/Traveller sites (there are currently no transit sites in Scotland).